How Do I Open BitLocker Virtual Hard Drive(VHD)?
Have you ever encountered an instance wherein you need to access the encrypted BitLocker virtual drive? Now, in order to access the virtual hard drive, which has been encrypted. A user must provide the password to unlock the drive. So, what a user needs to do to unlock BitLocker drive? For that, first turn off BitLocker encryption from the drive and later mount the VHD file. So readers, read on and get the process done to open BitLocker VHD in a hassle-free way.
How to Turn-Off BitLocker Encryption from a Virtual Drive?
BitLocker has been an inbuilt feature of Windows. It is available for Windows 10 Pro, Education and Enterprise editions. Now, there are top 3 methods to unlock BitLocker drive encryption. Here are the following approaches to turn-off the encrypted virtual drive.
Approach #1: Via Windows Settings
- Initially, click the Start button or the Windows logo and select the Settings option
- After opening the Settings wizard, click the System option
- Now, the System window will enlist a set of options. From there, open the Device Encryption tab
Note: If the Device Encryption option is not available under System wizard. Go to About and check for Device Encryption. If it is still not available, which means the computer does not have a BitLocker.
- After that, click Turn Off button, which is in the middle of the page
- This will make the BitLocker to start the decryption process, which will take some time to finish
Note: Before BitLocker starts turning off the encryption, you will be asked to enter the Admin password or PIN.
Approach #2: Via Control Panel
- Here, click on the Start button and navigate for BitLocker
- Now, click Manage BitLocker to open the BitLocker control panel page
- Then, find the desired virtual drive from where you need to disable BitLocker
- Click Turn Off BitLocker button to open BitLocker VHD
Note: Similar to the above approach, sometimes it may ask you to provide Administrator credentials or PIN before BitLocker begins turning off.
Approach #3: Via BitLocker Recovery Key
Before encrypting the virtual drive through the password, you must have given a 48-digit recovery key. This recovery key can be utilized, whenever a user tends to forget the password
- Firstly, find the 48-digit recovery key to open BitLocker VHD
- Turn on the computer to launch the BitLocker screen. It will take a couple of minutes to load the BitLocker screen
- Then, press ESC key, which will indicate that the user wants to enter the recovery key instead of BitLocker password
- Now, enter the 48-digit recovery key on the specified field and hit Enter
- Finally, the encrypted virtual drive has been the turn-off, which will allow to open BitLocker VHD
How to Mount or Connect a VHD File in Windows?
After turning off BitLocker from your computer. Now, it is the time to unlock BitLocker drive file by mounting the virtual disk via Disk Management tool. To do the same, a user must follow the below-listed steps carefully and sequentially,
- Go to Control Panel>> choose System and Security>> select Administrative Tools>> click Computer Management
- Under Computer Management window, select Disk Management option to open BitLocker VHD file
- Now, right-click on Disk Management and select Attach VHD option
- From Attach Virtual Hard Disk dialog box, click on Browse and navigate the VHD file to open BitLocker VHD file and click OK
- Once the mounting gets complete, it will show as another Basic disk, which is highlighted in light blue
- In case of dismounting the VHD file, go back to Disk Management and right-click the drive listed on the left side and select Detach VHD option
What if the VHD File is Corrupted or Damaged?
After following the above procedure to unlock BitLocker drive. It is quite pathetic to see that the user is not able to view BitLocker drive due to the occurrence of corruption. Apart from that, there can be an instance wherein the user has deleted the VHD file before applying the BitLocker. encryption Later, because of some urgent requirement, he/she needs to recover the VHD file. So in such a situation, what should be the solution to recover the deleted or damaged VHD files?
User Scenario
Solution
Under such circumstance, try to use SysTools VHD Viewer software. As it is an only and a complete solution, which will allow to read BitLocker drive. It is a secure software which instantly generates the preview of the deleted or corrupted files and also allows to open the file on the system.
What are the Outstanding Features of this Tool?
- Enables to view offline, dismounted and damaged VHD files
- After the recovery process, a user can search data from the VHD files
- Capable to open and view the VHD file contents within the interface
- Efficiently opens the VHD file, which is created from failed VM
- Capable to automatically read the permanently deleted VHD files
- Provides clear and flexible preview facility for deleted contents
- Renders simple and interactive interface to view the deleted files
- Compatible with all the VHD supported applications
Final Words
In this blog, we have discussed the procedure to open BitLocker VHD files. Once decrypting the BitLocker virtual drive, if you see any VHD files are damaged or corrupted, then try using the trustworthy tool which is discussed above. It is the ultimate solution to read and unlock BitLocker drive without facing any technical dubieties.